The private banquet invitation from the palace was delivered to the Cui Mansion, and the entire household practically greeted it on their knees.

The Lin Party had fallen long ago. Without the shade of a great tree to shelter under, the Cui Mansion was showing signs of fatigue in the official arena. But when the Empress Dowager's invitation arrived, the entire Cui Mansion trembled.

The invitation wasn't addressed to any of the wives from the three branches.

But to the widowed Lin Wanxiao.

The Lin Family Young Lady had always kept her courtyard doors tightly shut. After drinking Forget-Worry Wine, she had been in a dazed state. Her room, once overflowing with various editions of *Peony Pavilion*, now, with a single thought, she wanted to burn them all clean.

She didn't want to remember that dream anymore.

She didn't dare sleep deeply, not even last night. Only light slumber. She was afraid she'd recall him again...

In her dreams... she had called him "husband"…

And tried multiple times to serve him.

If this wasn't being unfaithful, then what was? What kind of woman like this still has the face to live in this world?

She wanted to take a white silk sash and hang herself.

In the faint, engulfing black smoke, she watched the burning storybooks as ashes floated into the air. A woman's heart is so conflicted—just after throwing the books into the fire, she felt unwilling again, wanting to stretch out her hand to retrieve them, grasp the torn scraps of paper. Just as she had thought of hanging herself moments ago, now she didn't want to die...

For if she died, she wouldn't be able to dream of him anymore.

She trembled with cold, her skin bristling in goosebumps.

The Empress Dowager had once said, being that man's companion in bed would give her the chance to kill him. Lin Wanxiao had already mentally prepared herself to sacrifice her chastity for it. After killing him, she'd seek out a white silk sash herself and die. If others found out, she wouldn't be regarded as anything less than a virtuous martyr.

But her bodily chastity versus her inner purity...

"It's different…"

The latter weighs heavier!

A surge of thick black smoke rose. Before she could gather her thoughts, a crowd from the Cui Mansion poured into her courtyard. Lin Wanxiao and Xiuhe turned their heads to look, only to see Cui Bu, the other two branch heads, and the first and second ladies present. Everyone in the Cui Mansion with decision-making power had arrived.

Upon inquiry, it was to request her attendance at the private banquet.

Lin Wanxiao's mind and heart were ablaze, knowing all too well whom she would meet at the banquet. Her body trembled uncontrollably.

She hadn't yet recovered from the tumult of her dreams and now would face yet another loss of purity?

But she had no room to refuse.

The members of the Cui Mansion initially tried speaking kindly, appealing to emotion and reason. Her elder brother Cui Bu even shed tears. But upon seeing Lin Wanxiao's persistent unwillingness, several robust maids were commanded to forcibly press her into a sedan chair.

Xiuhe wanted to chase after her mistress, but she was restrained by the maids, left helplessly looking on as the young lady was sent toward the palace.

Inside the sedan chair, Lin Wanxiao's face was as pale as paper.

Gradually, she came to her senses, biting down hard on her silver teeth.

It seemed… she was about to see him again.

The Lin Family Young Lady suddenly began to weep and laugh at the same time, her expression erratic. She thought of their parting and, unexpectedly, a surge of longing welled up in her heart.

She would see him again…

.........…

.........…

Yin Tingxue, adept in the Heavenly Ear Technique, seemed to hear some faint sound.

She lowered her face, glancing downward to check.

Indeed, there wasn't much of a chest to see...

Yin Tingxue's delicate brows furrowed. Unnecessarily criticized out of the blue, her heart felt inexplicably sour.

Moreover… the one criticizing her,

was the individual the Empress Dowager intended to marry her off to…

Yin Tingxue's gaze flickered darkly. Back when Chen Yi sought her hand in marriage at Prince Mansion, she could've been the first or second lady there. But now, with the sudden emergence of a betrothal decree, what would her title even be?

The… third wife?

Yin Tingxue's thoughts were unsettled. Tugging on Chen Yi's sleeve, she opened her mouth, seeking to change the subject: "Haven't we started eating yet?"

In truth, Yin Tingxue wasn't completely unaware of the Empress Dowager's marriage decree. She had once overheard mention of it when the Empress Dowager visited Chen Yi's estate in disguise. However, that encounter had been brief and happened long ago, leaving everyone to believe the matter had been shelved indefinitely.

Chen Yi turned his head to her, tapping gently on her nose. "Little glutton, the Empress Dowager hasn't arrived yet."

Turning away, he glanced at Miss Donggong. "Still, there's some beauty to feast upon."

Dong Gong Ruoshu's heart skipped a beat.

She lowered her head, looking at her heavy chest, suddenly overcome with an inexplicable urge to burst into tears.

Seeing that Xiaochan hadn't approached them yet, Dong Gong Ruoshu hastily used *secret transmission techniques*: "Enough searching, can we skip the marriage altogether?"

Chen Yi smirked mischievously. "You'll need to ask the Empress Dowager."

"Then why don't you marry the Empress Dowager?"

Dong Gong Ruoshu's face was a picture of panic.

Chen Yi dared not answer and simply brought up his tea bowl to sip silently.

Miss Donggong still wanted to say something, but at this point, Xiaochan observed their secret transmission. Judging by their manner, it didn't look like romantic talk, so she moved closer.

Xiaochan leaned down to whisper beside her mistress, "Miss, this won't do. Why aren't you speaking to your future husband?"

Dong Gong Ruoshu's expression shifted slightly. When had this maid stopped siding with her and instead begun siding with the Empress Dowager? She hurriedly explained, "We were exchanging affectionate looks."

"But it didn't seem that way to me."

"Why not?"

"He only looks at your chest."

"..."

At these words, Dong Gong Ruoshu's heart sank completely.

She hadn't met Chen Yi often, but they had known each other for a while. Before this meeting, she still held a shred of hope, sincerely wishing he was a virtuous gentleman.

Who could've imagined that since setting eyes on her, his gaze had been fixed squarely on her chest.

And worse still, she was forced to wear a *hezi skirt*, exposing cleavage, pale flesh, and her arms fully to his view...

She had even taught him two moves of her *killing sword*!

Hold on…

Dong Gong Ruoshu remembered something and turned to him. "General, didn't I teach you two moves of the *killing sword*?"

"Just call me Zunming," Chen Yi paused for a moment before continuing, "Yes."

"Alright, Zunming," Miss Donggong took a deep breath, "One day as my student, a lifetime as my child—doesn't that make me your teacher for one day? Yes or no?"

"Yes."

Dong Gong Ruoshu had barely managed a smile of relief when his next words arrived: "But I enjoy betraying teachers and ancestors."

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